A Famine Not of Bread

"The Ordaining of the Twelve" by James Tissot Click here to listen to this sermon. [Jesus] went away from there and came to His hometown, and His disciples followed Him. And on the Sabbath He began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard Him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to Him? How are such mighty works done by His hands? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” And they took offense at Him. And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” And He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He marveled because of their unbelief. And He went about among the villages teaching (Mark 6:1-6). Grace to you and peace from God our Father the Lord Jesus Christ! There once was a young Christia...

"Pashur Smiting Jeremiah in the Temple" by Leonart Bramer Click here to listen to this sermon. The text for today is our Old Testament reading, Jeremiah 20:7-13. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! Pashhur is a priest who oversees Jerusalem’s temple. His job description is simple: Make sure nothing changes. Pashhur’s mantra? “This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord” (Jeremiah 7:4). As chief of temple security, Pashhur polices the place and dispenses with all false prophets, placing a gag order on everyone critiquing the present arrangement of power. In walks Jeremiah. He’s not afraid to call ‘em as he sees ‘em. The prophet’s preaching is a threat to Pashhur’s livelihood. It’s hardly surprising that people give Jeremiah the name Magor-misabib . It means “terror on every side.” The nickname summarizes the prophet’s frequent message. When people see Jeremiah in the marketplace or walking in their neig...

"Amos" by James Tissot Click here to listen to this sermon. “Seek the Lord and live, lest He break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and it devour, with none to quench it for Bethel, O you who turn justice to wormwood and cast down righteousness to the earth!... “They hate him who reproves in the gate, and they abhor him who speaks the truth. Therefore because you trample on the poor and you exact taxes of grain from him, you have built houses of hewn stone, but you shall not dwell in them; you have planted pleasant vineyards, but you shall not drink their wine. For I know how many are your transgressions and how great are your sins— you who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe, and turn aside the needy in the gate. Therefore he who is prudent will keep silent in such a time, for it is an evil time” (Amos 5:6–7, 10-15). Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! A few weeks ago, we focused on the importance of holding your tongue and wat...

"The Beheading of John the Baptist" by Rembrandt Click here to listen to this sermon. Then Amos answered and said to Amaziah, “I was no prophet, nor a prophet’s son, but I was a herdsman and a dresser of sycamore figs. But the Lord took me from following the flock, and the Lord said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to My people Israel’” (Amos 7:14-15). Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! The phrase “speaking truth to power” means to confront those who hold important positions, whether in government, business, or religious institutions. Speaking truth to power means to demand a moral response to a problem, rather than an expedient, easy, or selfish response. The phrase speaking truth to power carries a connotation of bravery, of risking either the status quo, one’s reputation, livelihood, or the wrath of the person one is confronting. Martin Luther and the reformers were speaking truth to power as they challenged the abuses that had crept into the C...

"The Call of Ezekiel" by Marc Chagall Click here to listen to this sermon. He said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak with you.” And as He spoke to me, the Spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and I heard Him speaking to me. And He said to me, “Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel, to nations of rebels, who have rebelled against Me. They and their fathers have transgressed against Me to this very day. The descendants also are impudent and stubborn: I send you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God .’ And whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house) they will know that a prophet has been among them” (Ezekiel 2:1–5). Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! Ezekiel, the son of Buzi, a priest of Jerusalem, belonged to the company of Jews who had been carried into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon about 597 B.C. In the fifth year of his captivity, he was calle...